Steam-applying device



April 0, 1954 E. J. SANZONE ETAL STEAM-APPLYING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1951 BERNARD L. GOLDWATER fiz zm ATTORNEYS E. J. SANZONE ETAL April 20, 1954 STEAM-APPLYING DEVICE Filed May 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 50mm) .1. smzouz BERNARD z. GOLDWATEB ATTORN EYS Patented Apr. 20, 1954 STEAM-APPLYING DEVICE Edward J. Sanzone and Bernard L. Goldwater,

New, Haven, Conn.

Application May 8, 1951, Serial No. 225,242

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to steam-applying devices, and more particularly to portable devices for softening wallpaper, paint, varnish, and the like by the application of steam preparatory for the removal of these finishes, whether they be on walls, ceilings, or floors.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device for the purposes mentioned which is unitary and self-contained.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device for the purposes described which embodies therein a container for the water from which the steam is to be generated, and means for applying the steam at multiple angles to the container.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device for the purposes described which can be used on sloping and irregular surfaces.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device for the purposes described which quickly generates steam electrically and is entirely safe, comprised of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which are inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a steam-applying device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device, certain parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of a portion of the steam generator.

' In the drawings, the numeral l designates a cylindrical container in which are located, in the assembled device, a reservoir H for water and a heating chamber l2. The container may be of light metal or other suitable material having a threaded neck portion. The neck portion of the container is engaged by a screw cap l3 of sheet metal or other suitable material. The screw cap is provided with a neck adjacent a portion of the cap perimeter and the neck is engaged by a threaded filler cap l4. The screw cap I3 is also provided with a steam outlet adjacent a portion of the cap perimeter. The steam outlet is constituted by a sleeve l extending through the cap. The sleeve has a shouldered portion engaging the upper surface of the cap and fixed thereto, as by welding. The cap I3 is provided with two apertures adjacent its center through which electrodes is, comprising the heating element, are extended downwardly into the container to a point adjacent the bottom thereof. The electrodes may be of any'material having the property of electrical resistance. In the preferred form of the invention the electrodes are made of stainless steel. Terminals H, in the form of prongs, are located at the upper ends of the electrodes. In the present form, the terminals I! are elbowed so that their plug-contacting portions are horizontally disposed. A horizontal electric-plug retainer I8 is associated with the terminals and suitably fastened to the screw cap I3.

As can be seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the electrodes it; are provided with enlarged portions l9 which are threaded and have upper circumferential projections l9 which engage insulating washers located between the projections and the upper surface of the cap l3. The enlarged portions of the electrodes terminate a short distance below the underside of the screw cap. An insulating disk 20 is located at the underside of the screwcap and is fitted over the enlarged portions 'of the electrodes. The disk is provided with insulating sleeves which extend through the apertures in the cap. Nuts 20 engage the threads on the enlarged portions of the electrodes to firmly positionthe disk an secure the electrodes to'the cap.

A hollow cylindrical sleeve member 2|, which may be made of metal or other heat-resistant material, is welded to, or made integral with, the screw cap 13 and is disposed over the electrodes so as to be adjacent thereto but not in contact therewith, The lower end of the cy1indrical member 2 [is open to provide for the introduction of water into the interior of the member. The open end of the cylindrical member is somewhat below the lower ends of the electrodes I6. The upper portion of the'cylindrical member is slotted, as at 22'. The cylindrical member and the electrodes provide the heating chamber l2 from which steam, generated therein, will pass out of the chamber through the slot 22 in the cylindrical member. g a

' Encircling the container lfl,'is a detachable sheet metal clamp 23 having its ends adjustably fastened together by a bolt 23 engaged by a wing nut 23. A vertically disposed handle '24, provided by a loop of sheet metal; is riveted to the clamp diametrically opposite the adjustable fastening means comprised of the bolt 23 and the nut 23 As can be seen in Fig. 1, the handle has projections 24 by which it engages the cylindrical wall of the container to provide a rigid handle structure.

Midway between the adjustable fastening means andthe handle, the clamp isprovided with two radially outward projections 25 having perforated planar surfaces 25 outermost, the projections of the clamp being diametrically opposite each other. Pivotally fastened to the planar surfaces of the projections 25 are perforatedfend portions of a sheet metal U-shaped bracket 26 of substantial length, the fastening" means comprising two bolts M5 having their shanks extended outwardly through the respectiveperiorations in the projections and end portions of the U-shaped bracket, and also comprising wing nuts 26 engaging th outer ends of the bolts.

Midway between the ends -of the" bracket 26' is an outwardly facing steam pan 27 or conventional design. The steam" pan is made of sheet metal and is of generally rectangulanshape having side walls: flared outwardly from: a: planar bottom. The pan is rigidly fastened to thebracket by any suitable means. In the form shown, the bracket is riveted teth bottom: of the pan. The bottom ofthe'pan is perfbratedand a'sleeve 28 extends through the perforation. The sleevehas a shouldered p-ortion engaging the pan and securedtliereto; as=by welding The ends of" afl'exib1e-hose=- 2 9 of rubber or synthetic material are fitted.- snugly over theouter protruding portions of the sleeves i5 and 28; respectively, forming a steam conduitinterconnecting the container or steam generator and the: interior of the 'pan'.

From the foregoing, the operation of the device should lie-readily apparent. The filler cap i removed and the container is filled with water level in: the heating: chamber will: remain even with the water level in the reservoir or area surrounding'the chamber. A. smalliquantityof some ionizable substance is added to the water to facilitate the passage of current between the immersed electrodes. The.- filler cap is then replaced: and? the. device plugged. into:- an electric circuit. Within a short: interval? of time, the water within the heating, chamber and adjacent the electrodes is bnoughtxtola: boil; and produces steam which passes: out off the heating; chamber at low pressure-through the slot M in: the upper portion; or the cylindrical wall of. the chambers. Steam". is collectedzin: the upper portion of, the container; extericrly ot the heating chamber. Then: at; low pressure; steam passesst-hrough; the steam outlet: l5 in. the screw cap and is, conductedto the steamiinlet; in the steam pan by means of theflexiblehoseflil interconnecting the steam generator and the interior of the pan.

One-of theadvantages of. 13118: present device is the rapidity with-whichv steam is produced after thegenerator has been-connected to an electric circuit. Heat giventofi by the electrodes is contained within a small. area: bounded by the cylindrical wall of the heating chamber, and, as only a small volume of water may be present within thechamber; the liquid content is quickly brought to aboil, producing steam. Another advantage-of the. device is that, as theprocess ofagenerating steamcontinues, heat given ofi by the electrodes to a large xtent remains 10- calized to the centrally disposed heating chamher and no appreciable amount of heat is transmitted by the reservoir to the container and the operating handle for the device. There is little danger of the aforementioned handle becoming hot and causing burns on the hands of the operator.

It shouldibe noted that: as: the liquldcontent 01' the heating chamber is evaporated; thechamber isfed from the reservoir by gravity, which equalizes the water levels. When the level of the liquid contents of the generator sinks below the electrodes, the electric circuit is broken, preventing" overheating. For this reason and for reasons noted above, the container may be made of glass.

The screw cap l3 of th container may be easily removed for the purpose of cleaning, repairing or replacing parts of the generator. In this regard, it should be; observed that the screw cap andthe, cylindrical wall-ofthaheating chamber" may be formedroil aheateresistant. p'lasticiand madeintegral with; each other; Should thelscrew cap be removed. while the electrodes arexcon nected. to a souce of, current, the cylindrical; wall of the heating chamber acts: to: preclude inadvertent. arcing, of the. electrodeslikelyrto cause shocksrand fires.

The clamp? 23 encircling; the container maybe readily removed from: the generator. withoutfirst removing the U-sha-ped bracket. 2-6 fastened to the-clamp. This ope-ration!requiresiloosening the wing nut 23 engaging; the bolt 23 extending throughthe ends or therclampz. The flexiblehose may be disconnected from the generaton byaslipping, it from its:-connection-.v to. the screw cap. Should the;- occasion. arise,, one steami generator may be substituted. for. another- It mayalso-The pointed" out that the u-shaped bracket be removed from the clamp;- with littledifliculty. Thusthe steamgeneratormay be used apart from the steamlpanr Owing to the flexible; connection between the steam pan and the generatonthe steampanmay be positioned at multiple angles to the generator for the purpose of. applying, steam: to wall,.,ceiling or floor surfaces to. softenwallpaper. or paint preparatory for its. removal. The. pan. is.- man.- ually positioned by first loosening the. wing. nuts which engage the bolts extending through the ends of the. U-shaped bracketandthen swinging the pan to the desiredangle; Inthisoperatiom the bolts M5 act. aspivots. Whenthewing nuts are tight, the pan is rigidly supported, fromt-he generator. Thepan; may be positioned: atany point. on an arc. of more: thanlBOff. The bracket is so dimensioned that itclearsrthemcap-stnucture and the lower portion ofi the-generation. Thus the pan may be. positioned so that itlfacesvupwardly, laterally or downwardly.- It-willbeepparent that the pan may be positioned. so that steam. may be applied to sloping. or irregular surfaces" 1 It has been noted tha-tthe device may be. used for the purpose ofi applying steamxto-fioors preparatory for removing paint and: varnish fin ishes. This is important inasmuch as hereto?- fOl'Bi unitaryand self-contained;wallpaper steam.- ers: have been unsuitable for use on: floors.-

Our portable steam-applying device is unitary and-self-contained; It is light inn/eightand may be easily lifted and moved-from. place te-place by means of a handle-provided;fcrsthis purpose; Thedevice. consists oi. few parts. The-.parts are durablennd'inexpensive to manufacture. mad-I from which steam is generated, a handle-carrying" attaching clamp connected to said container, a U-shaped bracket having its ends adjustably connected tonsaid clamp, an outwardly facing steam pan rigidly connected to the U-shaped bracket midway between the ends of the bracket, and a flexible steam conduit interconnecting said container and the interior of said pan, said adjustable connection between the bracket and the clamp permitting said pan to be positioned upwardly, downwardly or laterally from said container.

2. In a steam-applying device, the combination of a generally cylindrical container for water from which steam is generated, a handle-carrying attaching clamp connected to said container and carrying two outwardly disposed bolts, a U- shaped bracket having its ends connected to said clamp by means including said bolts, an outwardly facing steam pan rigidly connected to said U-shaped bracket midway between the ends of the bracket, and a flexible steamconduit interconnecting said container and the interior of said pan, the connection between said bracket and said clamp permitting said pan to be positioned at multiple angles to said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 546,504 Blaisdell Sept. 17, 1895 1,264,973 Powers May 7, 1918 1,391,350 Tucker Sept. 20, 1921 1,806,729 Aitken May 26, 1931 1,855,018 Glessner Apr. 19, 1932 1,949,778 Brown et al. Mar. 6, 1934 2,123,509 Lawner et al. July 12, 1938 2,137,876 Hudson Nov. 22, 1938 2,152,157 Sittler et a1. Mar. 28, 1939 2,172,917 Voigt Sept. 12, 1939 2,226,426 Gallagher Dec. 24, 1940 

